Hazardous Materials Hotline©
IAB Releases Guidance
The InerAgency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability (IAB) has released a guidance
document to assist agencies in assessing and purchasing Field Raman Chemical Detection equipment.
This follows the recent release of guidance assisting with the assessment and purchase of multi-gas
meters.
Discussion: The IAB continues to provide guidance to assist agencies with assessing and purchasing of
equipment and services, including the development of the Standardized Equipment List. Agencies
seeking to purchase response equipment, regardless of the discipline or task, should consider using the
resources of the IAB to ensure the effective use of funds.
Federal News
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(CDC/NIOSH) has updated its CBRN Respiratory Protection Handbook, which includes the updates to the
use of APRs and other protective equipment. CDC/NIOSH has also released exposure and PPE guidance
for fentanyl response to guide emergency and investigative response personnel. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) has released the 2025 Preparedness Grants Manual. There are several
changes to the grant process and authorized categories that planners and team leaders should become
familiar with. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Science and Technology has updated its
Radiological Dispersal Device Immediate Response Guidance.
Discussion: The guidance documents provide support for the management and response elements
and team leaders, planners, and key personnel should become familiar with these documents and their
contents.
Rail Car and Tank Truck Identification
SafeRack has published a Rail Car and Tank Truck Identification page which provides some general
information that should be of interest to emergency responders.
Discussion: While not an in-depth, all-inclusive document, the page provides some general information
on common rail and road containers.
CSB Searchable Index
InquestandInquiries.com has released a topic searchable index of Chemical Safety Board (CSB) reports.
Discussion: The index provides a means to search for incidents using a variety of filters and key words,
allowing topic specific inquiry and improving the ability to apply the reports to emergency planning and
response.
Firefighter Contamination Research
A recent article in the Journal of Occupation Health and Hygiene assessed the risk of direct and indirect
contamination to firefighters through their hands.
Discussion: Firefighter cancer and exposure to smoke, both in the wildland and structural arenas
continues to be of concern.
Discussion: Firefighters continue to see risks of certain cancers above the general population, with the
World Health Organization listing cancer as an occupational risk of firefighting. More information can be
found here.
Want to be alerted when a new Hazardous Material Hotline is published? Click the button to sign up for our notifications.
